Cuff Frames for Garments

ABSTRACT

Cuff frames and garments with cuff frames configured to receive an arm, a wrist, and a hand of a wearer. The cuff frames include a wall extending along and radially spaced from a longitudinal axis. The wall defines a wrist portion, a hand portion, and an arm portion. The wrist portion is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis at a first distance to define a wrist opening. The hand portion is longitudinally adjacent to the wrist portion and flares outwards from the wrist portion. The arm portion is longitudinally adjacent to the wrist portion opposite the hand portion and flares outwards from the wrist portion. The first distance is selected to enable the hand and the wrist of the wearer to pass through the wrist opening.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to cuff frames and garments with integrated cuff frames. In particular, cuff frames and garments configured to maintain space for a user's hand to move relative to material outside the cuff frame are described.

Protective suits, which are also known as hazard or hazmat suits, are worn when a person must work or be present in a hazardous environment, such as a chemical spill or where biological agents are present. The protective suit forms a barrier between the external environment and an internal environment within the suit. Ideally, gloves are sealed to the suit at the cuffs to form a more complete barrier.

In current practice, sealing gloves to the cuffs with tape has the drawback of restricting or preventing the user from pulling his or her hand out of the glove and into the sleeve or torso areas of the suit. It would be desirable to facilitate a user conveniently and effectively withdrawing his hand into the suit without affecting the seal. Freeing a user to pull his hand into the suit would allow him to wipe off a fogged face shield, operate a radio or other electronic device in the suit, or perform some other task within the suit.

Conventional protective suits are somewhat difficult and time consuming to put on and take off, which is also known as gowning and degowning. Constrictions at the sleeve and cuff of the suit restricts a user from easily inserting and withdrawing his or her hand and arm in and from the sleeve. Constrictions occur because the sleeve and cuff tend to collapse when constricted by tape. Supporting the sleeve and cuff would allow one to move his or her arm and hand more readily and make putting on and taking off the protective suit easier.

Thus, there exists a need for solutions that allow a user wearing a protective suit or other garment to move his or her hand relative to the protective garment without affecting seals in place on the garment. Examples of new and useful cuff frames and garments incorporating cuff frames addressing these needs are discussed below.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to cuff frames and garments with cuff frames configured to receive an arm, a wrist, and a hand of a wearer. The cuff frames include a wall extending along and radially spaced from a longitudinal axis. The wall defines a wrist portion, a hand portion, and an arm portion. The wrist portion is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis at a first distance to define a wrist opening. The hand portion is longitudinally adjacent to the wrist portion and flares outwards from the wrist portion. The arm portion is longitudinally adjacent to the wrist portion opposite the hand portion and flares outwards from the wrist portion. The first distance is selected to enable the hand and the wrist of the wearer to pass through the wrist opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sleeve of a protective suit and a glove taped to the sleeve, the figure depicting in dashed lines a cuff frame supporting the sleeve and the glove around an opening defined by the cuff frame and the user's hand inside the glove.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but with the user's hand retracted out of the glove and into the sleeve after passing through the cuff frame.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cuff frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the cuff frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a hand portion of the cuff frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of an arm portion of the cuff frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a garment including a cuff frame sewn into a sleeve.

FIG. 7B is a close-up perspective view of the garment including a cuff frame sewn into a sleeve shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cuff frame shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the cuff frame shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 10 is front elevation view of the cuff frame shown in FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed cuff frames and garments with cuff frames will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.

Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various cuff frames and garments with cuff frames are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.

Definitions

The following definitions apply herein, unless otherwise indicated.

“Substantially” means to be more-or-less conforming to the particular dimension, range, shape, concept, or other aspect modified by the term, such that a feature or component need not conform exactly. For example, a “substantially cylindrical” object means that the object resembles a cylinder, but may have one or more deviations from a true cylinder.

“Comprising” “including,” and “having” (and conjugations thereof) are used interchangeably to mean including but not necessarily limited to, and are open-ended terms not intended to exclude additional elements or method steps not expressly recited.

Terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used to distinguish or identify various members of a group, or the like, and are not intended to denote a serial, chronological, or numerical limitation.

“Coupled” means connected, either permanently or releasably, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components.

Contextual Details

The features of items used in conjunction with the cuff frames and garments with cuff frames described herein will first be described to provide context and to aid the discussion of the cuff frames.

As shown in FIG. 1, cuff frame 100 is a standalone part that may be used in conjunction with a garment 150 and a glove 152. With reference to FIGS. 7A-10, the reader can see that a garment 250 may include an integrated cuff frame 200.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, adhesive tape 156 is used to form a spill proof seal between a sleeve 154 of garment 150 and glove 152. Cuff frame 100 is disposed inside glove 152 and sleeve 154 proximate a cuff 158 of sleeve 154.

In the present example, garment 150 is a hazmat suit configured to isolate a person inside from fluids outside the suit. In some examples, the garment is a space suit, a laboratory shirt, suit, or sleeve, or a shirt, suit, sleeve, or jacket worn by mechanics, firemen, or medical personnel. In certain examples, the garment is a sleeve attached to and disposed inside a laboratory fume hood or containment region allowing a user to manipulate items within the fume hood or containment region. The garment may be any currently known or later developed type of protective garment.

The glove may also be any presently known or later developed type of protective glove. In certain examples, the glove does not include portions to cover each finger individually, but instead covers one or more fingers together, such as a mitten or two fingered glove.

Any conventional or later developed type of ape may be used to form a seal between the sleeve and the glove. In some examples, a band or other member is used to form a seal instead of adhesive tape.

Cuff Frames and Garments with Cuff Frames

With reference to the figures, cuff frames and garments incorporating cuff frames will now be described. The cuff frames and cuff frame garments discussed herein function to maintain space for a user's hand to move relative to material outside the cuff frame. In particular, the cuff frames function to radially support a garment and a glove around a defined passageway through which a user's hand and arm may pass relative to the cuff frame, garment, and glove. Further, the cuff frames function to provide the user's hand, wrist, and arm with freedom of movement when the user's hand, wrist, and arm are disposed within the passageway defined by the cuff frame.

The reader will appreciate from the figures and description below that the presently disclosed cuff frames and garments address many of the shortcomings of conventional protective suits. In particular, the cuff frames facilitate a user conveniently and effectively withdrawing his hand into the protective suit without affecting the seal between the suit and a glove sealed to the suit. The cuff frames free a user to pull his hand into the suit to perform a variety of tasks within the suit, such as wiping off a fogged face shield or operating a radio or other electronic device in the suit.

In addition, the cuff frames and garments including integrated cuff frames make gowning and degowning faster than is possible with conventional protective suits. Faster gowning and degowning makes wearing a protective suit more convenient for the wearer. Less time needed for gowning and degowning also allows the wearer to be ready faster to perform useful tasks more quickly both before and after wearing the protective suit.

Cuff Frame Embodiment One

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, a first example of a cuff frame, cuff frame 100, will now be described. Cuff frame 100 defines a passageway 111 configured to receive an arm 102, a wrist 104, and a hand 106 of a wearer 108 within it. Cuff frame 100 includes a wall 110 extending along a longitudinal axis and radially spaced from the longitudinal axis.

Wall

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, wall 110 defines a wrist portion 112, a hand portion 116, and an arm portion 118. In the present example, wall 110 is comprised of a polymer. However, the wall may be comprised of any other currently known or later developed material suitable for cuff frame applications, such as metals, woods, or composite materials.

The shape of wall 100 shown in FIGS. 1-6 is just one example of the various shapes it may adopt. In some examples, the wall is substantially cylindrical instead of including flared portions. In certain examples, the wall includes a single flared portion instead of two flared portions as depicted in FIGS. 1-6. In examples where the radial diameter of the wall changes along the longitudinal axis of the wall, the radial diameter changes may be more stepwise than continuous as shown in FIGS. 1-6.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, wall 110 defines longitudinal openings 113 that extend longitudinally along cuff frame 100. In the present example, longitudinal openings 113 extend from hand portion 116, through wrist portion 112, to arm portion 118. The longitudinal openings are optional features not present in every example. Longitudinal openings 113 function to increase the flexibility of wall 110 proximate the openings. In particular, longitudinal openings 113 are configured to allow wall 110 to flex proximate wrist portion 112 as well as to increase the flexibility of portions of hand portion 116 and arm portion 118.

In some examples, the wall additionally or alternatively defines openings that do not extend longitudinally along the wall. For example, the wall may define a plurality of circular, square, or triangular openings throughout the length of the wall instead of continuously extending openings like the longitudinal openings depicted in FIGS. 1-6.

With further reference to FIGS. 1-6, wall 110 defines flared openings 115 in hand portion 116 and flared openings 117 in arm portion 118. Flared openings 115 are defined where hand portion 116 radially flares from the first distance to the second distance. Flared openings 117 are defined where arm portion 118 radially flares from the first distance to the third distance. As can be seen in FIGS. 1-6, flared openings 115 and 117 have a teardrop shape, but other shapes are envisioned, such as oval, triangular, rectangular, or irregular. Flared openings 115 and 117 are configured to stiffen wall 110 in hand portion 116 distal wrist portion 112 and in arm portion 118 distal wrist portion 112.

Wrist Portion

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, the reader can see that wrist portion 112 is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis at a first distance to define a wrist opening 114. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first distance is selected to enable hand 106 and wrist 104 of wearer 108 to pass through wrist opening 114. In the present example, the first distance and wrist portion 112 is the narrowest portion of wall 110.

Hand Portion

As can be seen in FIGS. 1-6, hand portion 116 is longitudinally adjacent to wrist portion 112. Hand portion 116 flares outwards from wrist portion 112 to accommodate hand 106. The outward flaring also functions to provide hand 106 with freedom of movement, such as bending or tilting relative to wrist 104 or rotating relative to cuff frame 100.

In particular, the reader can see in FIGS. 1-6 that hand portion 116 is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis a second distance greater than the first distance. The radially spacing of hand portion 116 defines a hand opening 120. The second distance is selected to enable hand 106 of wearer 108 to bend or tilt relative to wrist 104 of wearer 108 within hand opening 120.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1-5, hand portion 116 includes a lip 128 distal wrist portion 112. Lip 128 is configured to be less flexible than wrist portion 112. In particular, longitudinal openings 113 terminate short of lip 128. Longitudinal openings 113 terminating short of lip 128 serves to make lip 128 relatively stiff. The relative stiffness of lip 128 makes it better able to support compressive forces, such as forces of glove 152 pressing inwards on cuff frame 100.

Arm Portion

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, arm portion 118 is longitudinally adjacent to wrist portion 112 opposite hand portion 116. Arm portion 118 flares outwards from wrist portion 112 to accommodate arm 102 and to allow arm 102 to tilt or bend relative to wrist 104. In the particular example shown in FIGS. 1-6, arm portion 118 is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis a third distance greater than the first distance to define an arm opening 122. The third distance is selected to accommodate arm 102 of wearer 108 within arm opening 122.

Arm portion 118 flaring outwards from the first distance at wrist portion 112 to the third distance at arm opening 122 defines a transition portion 124. As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, arm portion 118 includes a sleeve portion 126 extending from transition portion 124 along the longitudinal axis. Sleeve portion 126 is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis by the third distance.

Sleeve portion 126 is less flexible than wrist portion 112 and resists compressive forces. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, sleeve portion 126 functions to provide a surface against which tape 156 may be applied to seal sleeve 154 to glove 152.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1-6, sleeve portion 126 defines notches 127. Notches 127 function to make sleeve portion 126 more flexible distal transition portion 124. Being more flexible distal transition portion 124 allows sleeve portion 126 to flex in response to arm 102 pressing against it while leaving a relatively rigid portion of sleeve portion 126 proximate transition portion 124 where tape 156 can be applied.

Additional Embodiments

With reference to the figures not yet discussed, the discussion will now focus on additional embodiments of cuff frames and garments incorporating cuff frames. The additional cuff frame embodiments include many similar or identical features to cuff frame 100. Thus, for the sake of brevity, each feature of the additional embodiments below will not be redundantly explained. Rather, key distinctions between the additional embodiments and cuff frame 100 will be described in detail and the reader should reference the discussion above for features substantially similar between the different cuff frame examples.

Second Embodiment

Turning attention to FIGS. 7A-10, an example of a garment 250 including a cuff frame 200 integrated into a cuff 258 of sleeve 254 will now be described. As can be seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B, garment 250 includes a torso portion 253, a hood 255, legs 257, sleeves 254, cuffs 258, and cuff frames 200 integrated into cuffs 258. In certain examples, the garment does not include one or more of the hood, legs, or torso portion. In some examples, the garment includes a single sleeve instead of two sleeves as shown in FIG. 7A.

In the present example, garment 250 is a protective suit, also known as a hazmat suit, configured to isolate a person inside the suit from fluids outside the suit. In some examples, the garment is a space suit, a laboratory shirt, suit, or sleeve, or a shirt, suit, sleeve, or jacket worn by mechanics, firemen, or medical personnel. In certain examples, the garment is a sleeve attached to and disposed inside a laboratory fume hood or containment region allowing a user to manipulate items within the fume hood or containment region. The garment may be any currently known or later developed type of protective garment.

As can be seen in FIG. 7B, sleeve 254 defines a sleeve opening 259. Sleeve opening 259 is configured to receive an arm, a wrist, and a hand of a wearer, that is, a user may readily pass his arm, wrist, and hand through sleeve opening 259. In typical use, the user's hand will be disposed beyond cuff 258 of sleeve 254.

In the example shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, cuff frame 200 is integrated into garment 250 by sewing cuff frame 200 to sleeve opening 259 at cuff 258. In other examples, the cuff frame is integrated into the garment by affixing the cuff frame to the cuff with an adhesive or taping the frame to the garment with a suitable adhesive tape. In certain examples, the cuff frame is selectively coupled to the garment with a hook-and-loop fastener. In some examples, a pocket is formed in the cuff of the garment and the cuff frame is selectively inserted into the pocket. In other examples, the garment includes loops complementarily configured with the cuff frame to receive and secure the cuff frame.

Comparing FIGS. 1-6 and FIGS. 7A-10, the reader can see that cuff frame 200 is configured differently than cuff frame 100. In certain examples, however, the cuff frame integrated into a garment is identical or substantially similar to cuff frame 100. In the present example, cuff frame 200 includes a wall 210 with a more simple shape and configuration than wall 110 in cuff frame 100. Cuff frame 200 does not include multiple portions, flared transitions, or openings like cuff frame 100. However, the cuff frame integrated into a garment could include one or more of distinct portions, flared transitions, and openings as suitable for a given application. The size and shape of the cuff frame integrated into a garment may vary to suit a given user's anatomy, the application involved, or user preferences.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, cuff frame 200 defines a wrist opening 214. Wrist opening 214 is sized to enable the hand and the wrist of the wearer to pass through wrist opening 214. In the present example, cuff frame 200 and wrist opening 214 are complementarily configured with sleeve opening 259.

The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein. 

1. A cuff frame configured to receive an arm, a wrist, and a hand of a wearer, comprising: a wall extending along and radially spaced from a longitudinal axis, the wall defining: a wrist portion radially spaced from the longitudinal axis at a first distance to define a wrist opening; a hand portion longitudinally adjacent to the wrist portion and flaring outwards from the wrist portion; and an arm portion longitudinally adjacent to the wrist portion opposite the hand portion, the arm portion flaring outwards from the wrist portion; wherein the first distance is selected to enable the hand and the wrist of the wearer to pass through the wrist opening.
 2. The cuff frame of claim 1, wherein: the hand portion is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis a second distance greater than the first distance to define a hand opening; and the second distance is selected to enable the hand of the wearer to tilt relative to the wrist of the wearer within the hand opening.
 3. The cuff frame of claim 1, wherein: the arm portion is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis a third distance greater than the first distance to define an arm opening, and the third distance is selected to accommodate the arm of the wearer within the arm opening.
 4. The cuff frame of claim 3, wherein: the arm portion flaring outwards from the first distance to the third distance defines a transition portion; and the arm portion includes a sleeve portion radially spaced from the longitudinal axis by the third distance and extending from the transition portion along the longitudinal axis.
 5. The cuff frame of claim 4, wherein the sleeve portion is less flexible than the wrist portion.
 6. The cuff frame of claim 1, wherein the hand portion includes a lip distal the wrist portion.
 7. The cuff frame of claim 6, wherein the lip is less flexible than the wrist portion.
 8. The cuff frame of claim 1, wherein the wall defines longitudinal openings.
 9. The cuff frame of claim 8, wherein the longitudinal openings extend from the hand portion to the arm portion.
 10. The cuff frame of claim 9, wherein the longitudinal openings are configured to allow the wall to flex proximate the wrist portion.
 11. The cuff frame of claim 8, wherein the wall further defines flared openings in the hand portion where the hand portion radially flares from the first distance to the second distance and in the arm portion where the arm portion radially flares from the first distance to the third distance.
 12. The cuff frame of claim 11, wherein the flared openings are configured to stiffen the wall in the hand portion distal the wrist portion and in the arm portion distal the wrist portion.
 13. The cuff frame of claim 1, wherein the wall is comprised of a polymer.
 14. A cuff frame configured to receive an arm, a wrist, and a hand of a wearer, comprising: a wall extending along and radially spaced from a longitudinal axis, the wall defining: a wrist portion radially spaced from the longitudinal axis at a first distance to define a wrist opening; a hand portion longitudinally adjacent to the wrist portion and flaring outwards from the wrist portion, the hand portion including a lip distal the wrist portion; and an arm portion longitudinally adjacent to the wrist portion opposite the hand portion, the arm portion defining a transition portion flaring outwards from the wrist portion and defining a sleeve portion extending from the transition portion along the longitudinal axis at a set radial distance from the longitudinal axis; wherein the first distance is selected to enable the hand and the wrist of the wearer to pass through the wrist opening.
 15. The cuff frame of claim 14, wherein the wrist portion is flexible.
 16. The cuff frame of claim 15, wherein the lip is less flexible than the wrist portion.
 17. The cuff frame of claim 16, wherein the sleeve portion is less flexible than the wrist portion.
 18. The cuff frame of claim 17, wherein the wall defines longitudinal openings extending from the hand portion to the arm portion.
 19. The cuff frame of claim 18, wherein the wall further defines flared openings in the hand portion proximate the lip and in the transition portion of the arm portion.
 20. The cuff frame of claim 19, wherein the wall is comprised of a polymer. 